English · B1 · verb · 5 minutes
Be: present perfect
Use have/has been for states or visits that connect an earlier time with now.
Understand the choice
Have been can describe a continuing state or a completed visit whose experience matters now. Context separates I have been tired from I have been to Lima.
Core rule: Present perfect be is have/has + been; use since for a starting point and for for a duration.
Notice it in context
I have been busy since Monday.
He estado ocupado desde el lunes.
Have agrees with I; been is the participle; since Monday marks the continuing starting point.
She has been to Lisbon twice.
Two completed Lisbon visits are part of her experience.
Has been to describes visit and return.
They have been ready for an hour.
Their ready state began one hour ago and continues.
Have been supports an adjective plus duration.
What to remember
- Been to normally implies the person returned; gone to often implies the person is still away.
- How long…? naturally asks about a continuing present-perfect state.
Common trap: Do not use was with since when the state explicitly continues now.